Torque drive for the drill stem of a rotary drilling outfit



Sept. 21, 1954' .1 5 PAGE 2,689,710

TORQUE DRIV FR THE DRILL STEM OF A ROTARY DRILLING OUTFIT Filed Aug. 20, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I V v? are /3 89 l2 INVENTOR.

L m '16 6?! i 2, M a ,O a n we Patented Sept. 21, 1954 THE DRILL STEM OF A TIORQUE DRIVE FOR ROTARY DRI John S. Page, Long Page Oil Tools Inc.,

poration of California Application August 20, 1949, Serial No. 111,353

8 Claims.

This invention has to do with a torque drive for the drill stem of a rotary drilling outfit, and it is a general object of the invention to provide an effective, dependable drive serving to communicate torque to a drill stem and acting to indicate to the driller the amount of torque being communicated and acting to limit the torque that can be communicated to the drill stem.

In drilling a well, as for instance, an oil well, by the rotary method, a string of drill pipe extends to the bottom of the well where it carries a suitable drilling tool or bit and at the top of the well or in the derrick it is equipped with a part or section in the nature of a stem, usually polygonal in cross sectional configuration. A rotary unit or driving mechanism is provided in the derrick to receive power from a suitable source such as a prime mover, and a drive usually termed a bushing, is provided between the rotary unit and the stem by which rotation of the said unit is communicated to the stern, while the stem is free to move vertically so that it can be elevated or lowered as drilling conditions require.

Breaking or twisting oil of the drilling string is a difiiculty commonly experienced in the course of drilling with the rotary method, and this diffioulty has been common ever since this method of drilling was evolved. As drilling conditions become severe, as for instance where the boreis deep and the equipment heavy, danger of twistoff is acute, this being particularly true where high speeds are employed. Further, under many drilling conditions it is highly important for the driller to vary the amount of torque applied to the stem as drilling conditions vary. H'eretofore it has, with ordinary drilling equipment, been necessary for the driller to try to approximate the desired torque conditions by the exercise of due care and skill based on general experience.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a drive for a drilling string by which power derived from a prime mover, or the like, is communicated to the drilling string in such manner that the torque being imparted to the drilling string may be constantly observed by the driller so that any desired torque condition can be maintained, as circumstances may require.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drive for a drilling string which serves to communicate power or torque to the drilling string through a suitable mechanism such as a rotary unit, and which provides for release of the drive when a predetermined amount of torque is exceeded.

Another object of this invention is to provide LLING OUTFIT Beach, Calif., assignor to Long Beach, Calif., a cora torque drive for a drilling string applicable to a usual or typical rotary unit and engageable with a usual or conventional drill stem, making it unnecessary to vary or modify these typical or conventional units of equipment.

, A further object of the invention is to provide a torque drive of the general character hereinabove referred to which handles the drill stem through a bearing means, preferably an antifriction means so that the stem can be freely operated vertically through the rotary unit while the torque is being communicated to the stem and while the amount of torque thus communicated is being indicated to the driller or while the drive is released to prevent excessive torque being communicated to the stem.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a torque drive of the general character referred to which involves few simple dependable parts which are practical and dependable in operation, which are simple and inexpensive of manufacture, and which will effectively withstand the heavy or severe service to which this type of equipment is subjected.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating, generally, a rotary unit, the table of which has driving engagement with a drill stem through the torque drive provided by the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the drive provided by the present invention showing it with certain parts broken away to appear in section and to illustrate the mechanism, and with the driver in an engaged position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts positioned with the driver operated from the normal position and to a'position where it indicates torque being communicated through the drive. Fig. 4 is a plan view taken as indicated by line 44 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 66 on Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 1-1 on Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing another form or construction. Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken as indicated by line 9-5 on Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line l0l0 on Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the torque drive provided by the present invention is shown combined 5 between the top ring 6! and the flange 38. It is preferred that an anti-friction bearing 10 be disposed between the flange 38 and the ring 6! to minimize friction between these parts.

In the preferred form of the invention a suitable means is provided for adjusting the action of the springs 68. This means preferably serves to adjust the initial pressure under which the springs iii? are carried between the holder and body. In the particular case illustrated adjusting screws ii are carried in the flange 38 and may be operated to vary the position of the bearing it beneath the flange 38 and thereby vary the spacing that normally occurs between the rings 88 and 62. By providing the adjusting screws ii in the flange 38 they are readily accessible and they may be conveniently secured against slippage by set screws 13.

The cam means provided by the present invention and as shown in the drawings involves, generally, a cam part '88- on the driver H coperating with a cam part 8i in or on the body G. The cam parts 88 and 8! are preferably located within the base 2i of the body G and in the case illustrated the cam part 80 is in the form of a cylindrical extension depending from the lower end of the driver H and slidably and rotatably operating in a bore 82 formed centrally in the base 2|. The bore 82, as shown in the drawings, extends down through the bottom 23 and into the base 2|. In the particular case illustrated the cam part 8! is in the cam chamber formed by the bore 82 and to facilitate manufacture or accurate machining it is preferably in the form of a separable or detachable part such as a sleeve 85 engaged in the bore 82 from its upper end and secured therein by suitable means such as keys 85.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive the cam extension 88 on the driver H has one or more cam faces 81 on its lower end and facing downwardly, which faces cooperate with upwardly disposed cam faces 88 on the upper end of the cam insert 85. In practice various numbers of cam faces may be provided on the parts just described and the form and shape of these faces may be varied widely.

In the particular case illustrated there are two cam faces a: of equal extent circumferentially of the cam part 86 and located diametrically opposite each other, and each cam face 81 is a pitched or helically formed face, as will be understood from the drawings. Where the faces 81 of cam extension 88 join there are vertical shoulders 89. It will be understood, of course, that the cam faces 88 on the insert 85 correspond to or are complementary to the cam faces 81.

With the construction just described, as torque is communicated from the body G to the stem B through the driver I-I there is a tendency for the driver if to rotate relative to the body causing the cam faces 8'! and 88 to cooperate so that the driver is moved upwardly or vertically against the resistance of means J. In the preferred form of the invention when the driver is in the engaged position the retainer ring of or on the driver is flush with or substantially flush with the top of flange 38. As the cam parts 8'5 and 88 are moved relative to each other the driver H is forced upwardly against the spring means J and it will be apparent that the extent or degree of such movement will depend upon the amount of torque being communicated through the structure. The construction is arranged and proportioned so that the cam faces 81 and 88 will only effect a certain amount of movement of the driver I-I relative to the case and the spring means J is so constructed and set that when this amount of movement has occurred there is a predetermined amount of torque being communicated through the structure. It will be apparent that the cam parts will slip or operate one over the other, that is, the cam extension will operate over or past the cam parts of the insert 85 when there is excessive torque, so that an excess amount of torque cannot be communicated from the body to the stem. During normal operation, that is, when the cam parts 8? and 88 are operating without slipping one past the other, the driver H projects above the top of the body, indicating to the driller the amount of torque being communicated to the drill stem. Assoon as the cam parts slip past one another, as hereinabove described, and as will be apparent from the drawings, a hammering noise occurs when the cam parts drop back to a fully engaged position such as is shown in Fig. 2, thus calling the drillers attention to the fact that the slippage or torque relief is occurring.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the cam extension 88 depending from the lower end of the driver H, instead of being in end to end engagement with the cam part of the body G, slidably engages in a central bore or opening 98 in the cam insert 85 provided in the base of the body. In this case circumferentially spaced radially projecting cam parts or rollers 8'! are provided on the extension St and operate in cam openings or guideways 88 in the insert. The guideways 88 open at the upper end of insert 35 This construction is illustrated merely to demonstrate a variation of the particular cam mechanism first described. It will be apparent that the structure shown in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, will operate substantially the same as that first described, to the end that as torque is communicated through the structure, the driver H is lifted or moved upwardly against the spring means, and the structure is such that it will finally free and allow the driver to turn relative to the cage when a predetermined torque value is exceeded and the rollers have passed out of the guideways 38 at the upper ends thereof.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A drive communicating torque to a well drill stem including, a power driven rotatin table, a bushing mounted in and driven by the table, a vertically disposed cylindrical body supported in the bushing and passing the stem and having an opening in one side, a member carried in and shiftable relative to the body, an anti-friction bearing carried by the said member and adapted to engage and drive the stem, means normally yieldingly holding said member in a predetermined position relative to the body, and means operating in response to torque communicated from the body to said member to shift said member relative to the body against the resistance of the first mentioned means, the member being carried by the body with a part in the body adjacent said opening to be visible from the ex- 7 terior of the body when the member is operated from said position.

2. A drive operating a well drill stem from a rotary table including, a bushing in the table supported against downward movement relative thereto, a body carried by the bushing and projecting upward therefrom and passing the stem, a member carried in the body and surrounding and adapted to operate the stem, means retaining the said member in the body, and a coupling between the body and said member communicating only a limited amount of torque from the body to said member and including relatively movable torque transmitting elements and a spring normally yieldingly holding said elements engaged.

3. A drill stem drive including, a rotary table bushin having a central polygonal opening, a body having a depending polygonal part engaged in said opening and having a central stem passage and having a case projecting up from said part and above the table, a member carried in the case and surrounding the stem, an anti-friction bearing carried by said member and adapted to engage and drive the stem, and a couplin between the body and said member adapted to communicate only a limited amount of torque from the body to said member including, means in the case normally yieldingly hOldiIlg said member in a predeterm ned position relative to the body, and cam means in said depending part of the body and adapted to shift said member relative to the body against the resistance of said means as the table operates and when the torque communicated from the table to the stem exceeds a predetermined value.

4. A drive operating a well drill stem from a rotary table including, a bushing carried by the table, body carried by the bushing and having an opening passing the stem and having a case and a base on the case engaged with the bushing, a member carried in the case, an anti-friction bearing carried in said opening and adapted to operate the stem, and a coupling between the body, said member communicating only a limited amount of torque from the body to said member including means in the case normally yieldingly holding said member in a predetermined position relative to the body, and cam means in the base shifting said member relative to the body against the resistance of said means as the drive operates and including, a cam extension on said member depending into the base, a cam follower on said extension, and a part in the base having a guideway therein receiving the follower.

5. A drive operating a drill stem from a rotary table including, a body carried by the table to operate therewith and passing the stem, a member carried by the body to operate therewith and operating the stem, and a coupling between the body and said member communicatin only a limited amount of torque from the body to said member including means normally yieldingly holding said member in a predetermined position relative to the body, and cam means shifting said member relative to the body against the resistance of said means as the drive operates, the body having an upwardly projecting flange at its upper end surrounding and slidably engaging and guiding said member and the member having an outwardly projecting flange at its lower end slidably engaged in the body and guided thereby, the first mentioned means including a spring in the body and confined between said flanges.

. member 6. A drive operating a drill stem from a rotary table including, a body carried by the table to rotate therewith passing the stem, a member carried by the body to rotate therewith, an antifriction bearing carried by said member and having driving engagement with the stem, and a coupling between the body and said member communicating only a limited amount of torque from the body to said member including a plurality of elongate helical compression springs in an annular series surrounding the bearing and within the body normally yieldingly holding the member in a predetermined position relative to the body, and cam means responsive to a predetermined amount of torque between the body and member and adapted to shift said member relative to the body against the resistance of said springs as the drive operates.

7. A drive operating a drill stem from a rotary table including, a body carried by the table and passing the stem, a member carried by the body and operating the stem, and a coupling between the body and said member communicating only a limited amount of torque from the body to said member including means normally yieldingly holding the member in a predetermined position relative to the body, and cam means responsive to a predetermined amount of torque between the body and member and adapted to shift the member relative to the body against the resistance of said means as the drive operates, the body having a flange at its upper end slidably engaging and guiding said member and the member having a flange at its lower end slidably engaged in the body and guided thereby, the first mentioned means including a spring in the body between said flanges and an anti-friction bearing between the spring and one of the flanges.

8. A drive operating a drill stem from a rotary table including, a body carried by the table and passing the stem, a member carried by the body and operating the stem, and a coupling between the body and member communicating only a limited amount of torque from the body to the including means normally yieldingly holding the member in a predetermined position relative to the body, and cam means responsive to a predetermined amount of torque between the body and member and adapted to shift the member relative to the body against the resistance of said means as the drive operates, the body having a flange at its upper end slidably engaging and guiding the member and the member having a flange at its lower end slidably engaged in the body and guided thereby, the first mentioned means including a spring in the body between said flanges and means adjusting the resistance of the spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,237,932 Marlin Aug. 21, 1917 1,528,584 Stumpf Mar. 3, 1925 1,793,221 Iversen Feb. 17, 1931 1,881,728 Levedahl Oct. 11, 1932 2,080,952 Rathje May 18, 1937 2,144,156 Johnson Jan. 17, 1939 2,174,108 Maxwell Sept. 26, 1939 2,179,006 Bronzan et al Nov. 7, 1939 2,240,738 Dunn May 6, 1941 2,379,992 Sasgen July 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 353,416 Great Britain July 15, 1931 May 22, 1956 E. D. MCARTHUR 2,747,087

ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICES AND HIGH FREQUENCY SYSTEMS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2.

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A j 7 ii $2 I Z7 i k/ Inventor: Elmer D. McArthur,

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